I conduct community-engaged research, collaborating with partners to develop or enhance service models to support youth and families impacted by adversity and oppression. I focus on everyday settings (e.g., schools, summer camp and afterschool programs, youth-serving nonprofit organizations), thinking about how to extend meaningful support to families as well as supporting youth directly. I focus not only on what practices or interventions might best fit the needs of the setting, but also on the training, support and supervision that will allow an expanded community-based workforce to implement these practices effectively and experience their roles positively. I also look to develop or coordinate supports for youth and families that span the continuum from promotion and prevention to intervention. My work is rooted in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, decolonial and abolitionist principles, which translates to an emphasis on compassion, care, dignity and autonomy for people both delivering and receiving services or support.

Department of Psychology
815-753-0372
askpsyc@niu.edu
Declare a major: askpsyc@niu.edu
Advising: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Advising
Inquiries: kwest1@niu.edu